In honor of fallen heroes

A local firefighter participates in the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb Sunday at the Federal Building. The event is held around the country to honor and remember the 343 New York firefighters who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Each participant climbs the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.

JUNEAU EMPIRE

More than 30 local firefighters and other community members took part in the fourth annual Juneau Memorial 9-11 Stair Climb at the Federal Building Sunday, an event organized to honor and remember the New York firefighters who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

Wearing shirts that said “Never Forget,” and weighted down with gear that included boots, hats, jackets, oxygen tanks and hoses, local Capital City Fire and Rescue workers were joined by members of the Juneau Police Department and staff from Lemon Creek Correctional Center in making the climb, as well as family members.

Climbers also wore photocopied images of the 343 New York firefighters who died that day, attached around their necks with string.

To approximate the 110 stories of the World Trade Center, climbers went up the 10 flights of stairs at the Federal Building 11 times.

The event is held annually around the country, and is organized by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

In addition to the 343 firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001, the toll included 2,735 civilians, 23 NYPD police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers.